A Virginia Tech entomologist named a new millipede species after Taylor Swift

Published April 20, 2022 at 6:14 AM EDT

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep. Derek Hennen is a Virginia Tech scientist and a huge fan of Taylor Swift. So when his team discovered a new species of millipede in Taylor Swift's home state of Tennessee, he named it after her. The Swift Twisted-Claw Millipede is one of many species Hennen's team discovered, and Swift is not the only one with a nom de millipede. One is named for the Virginia Tech Hokies, and another is named for Hennen's wife.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BLANK SPACE")

TAYLOR SWIFT: (Singing) And I'll write your name.

INSKEEP: It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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